Cl  Vj 


'  V  Board  ol  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America. 


'37? 


MA 


OF  THK 


BOARD  OF 


REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  AMERICA, 


For  thk  Use  of  Missionaries  Under  Appointment  and 
In  Their  Fields  of  Labor. 


PREPARED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  BOARD. 


r 

C 


NEW  YORK: 

Press  of  Rogers  &  Sherwood  Printing  Co., 

14  and  16  Vesey  St. 

1895. 

INTERNATIONAL  MISSIONARY  COUNCIL 

156  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK,  N,  Y. 

U.  S.  A. 


MAR  1  2  1951 


MANUAL. 


This  pamphlet  is  designed  for  the  use  of  the  Board  and 
its  Missionaries.  Its  object  is  to  set  forth,  as  nearly  as  may 
be,  the  relations  of  Missionaries  to  the  Board  and  to  the  Mis¬ 
sions  of  which  they  are  members.  Those  relations  have 
always  been  of  the  most  cordial  and  fraternal  character.  It 
is  desired  that  they  may  always  remain  so,  for  the  Board 
and  the  Missionaries  are  but  helpers  of  one  another,  and 
workers  together  in  the  common  service  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  and  of  His  Church.  That  this  may  be  the  case,  the 
principles  on  which  the  work  of  the  Board  and  its  Missions 
are  conducted  should  be  expressed  in  rules  which  tend  to 
promote  regular  and  orderly  procedure.  These  rules  should 
be  clearly  understood  and  will  be  found  herein.  They  are 
the  result  of  long  experience,  yet  they  are  susceptible  of 
changes  in  the  future  as  necessity  or  adaptability  to  chang¬ 
ing  circumstances  may  dictate.  Any  questions  not  provided 
for,  will  receive  the  careful  consideration  of  the  Board  as 
they  may,  from  time  to  time,  arise.  But,  until  so  changed, 
the  assent  of  every  Missionary  who  accepts  an  appointment 
will  be  assumed. 

I.  The  Board. 

The  Board  acts  under  a  Constitution  approved  by  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America.  (See 
Appendix  I.)  It  is  composed  of  twenty-four  members,  min¬ 
isters  and  laymen,  of  whom  eight  are  chosen  annually  by 
the  Synod,  and  who  serve  for  three  years.  It  is  also  a  cor¬ 
porate  body,  by  a  special  Act  of  Incorporation,  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  i860.  (See  Appen¬ 
dix  II.,  III.) 

1.  The  Board  claims  no  ecclesiastical  authority,  and 
attempts  to  exercise  none.  Its  Missionaries  are  subject  to 
the  authority  and  discipline  of  the  Classes  or  Churches  to 
which  they  belong. 


3 


2.  But,  as  the  agent  of  the  General  Synod  of  the  Re¬ 
formed  Church,  charged  with  the  direction  of  its  Foreign 
Mission  work,  it  is  and  holds  itself  under  a  solemn  responsi¬ 
bility  to  the  Church  in  regard  to  the  character  and  capacity 
of  those  who  represent  it  in  the  field  ;  as  to  the  propriety  of 
the  methods  employed,  the  fidelity  with  which  the  labors  of 
the  Missionaries  are  performed  and  the  principles  of  the  Gos¬ 
pel,  as  they  are  held  by  the  Church,  maintained  and  propa¬ 
gated  ;  and  as  to  the  economical  use  of  the  funds  contributed 
by  the  churches,  etc.,  and  committed  to  its  trust  for  the  sacred 
duty  with  which  it  is  charged. 

3.  The  Board  will  welcome  and  carefully  consider  the 
application  of  any  who  may  desire  to  devote  themselves  to 
missionary  work  in  general  or  to  any  special  department  of 
it.  For  the  information  and  guidance  of  such  applicants,  a 
special  leaflet  and  blank  forms  are  provided  and  will  be  fur 
nished  to  those  who  desire  them. 

4.  In  making  appointments,  however,  the  Board  will  be 
governed  by  the  necessities  of  the  work  or  of  the  different 
fields  under  its  care,  and  by  the  amount  of  money  at  its  dis¬ 
posal.  And  the  fact  of  application  shall,  in  no  case,  be  re¬ 
garded  as  constituting  a  claim  for  appointment. 

5.  Where  a  M  issionary  is  required  for  some  particular 
service,  or  in  any  emergency  arising  on  the  field,  the  Board 
holds  itself  at  liberty  to  issue  a  call  to  such  person  as  it  may 
deem  qualified  and  desirable,  in  a  manner  similar  to  the 
calling  of  a  pastor  by  an  individual  church. 

6.  In  making  the  regular  annual  appropriation  for  the 
support  of  the  Missions,  the  whole  amount  so  appropriated 
shall  not  exceed,  in  any  one  year,  the  average  annual  re¬ 
ceipts  of  the  Board  from  all  sources  during  the  five  years 
next  preceding. 

7.  Whenever,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  the  condition  of 
the  treasury  may  warrant,  the  Board  will,  from  time  to  time, 
make  additional  appropriations  for  such  other  objects  not 
embraced  in  the  regular  appropriations  for  the  year,  as  may 
be  desired  by  the  Missions  and  approved  by  the  Board,  in 
the  order  of  their  importance. 

II.  The  Missionaries. 

Regularly  ordained  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  licensed 
preachers,  physicians,  teachers,  etc.,  under  regular  appoint- 

4 


I 


ment  and  not  under  a  special  contract,  are  called  Missiona¬ 
ries,  and  all  ladies,  whether  married  or  single,  Assistant  Mis¬ 
sionaries.* 

Preliminaries. 

1.  The  reception  of  applications,  the  appointment  of 
Missionaries  and  the  assignment  of  their  fields  of  labor,  are 
in  the  hands  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

2.  Appointments  are  ordinarily  understood  to  be  for 
life.  But,  in  special  cases,  the  Committee  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  make  contracts  for  special  service  for  a  limited  term  of 
years,  as  occasion  may  arise. 

3.  When  an  appointment  is  made,  the  Missionary  shall 
hold  himself  in  readiness  to  receive  the  instructions  of  the 
Committee. 

4.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  not  be  held  respons¬ 
ible  for  any  debts  of  a  Missionary,  or  any  expenses  incurred 
unless  by  its  direction  or  approval.  It  may,  however,  coun¬ 
sel  him  in  meeting  such  obligations,  that  every  appointee 
may  leave  the  country  free  of  debt. 

5.  Candidates  who  have  received  their  appointments 
cannot  begin  to  draw  upon  the  Board  for  their  expenses  until 
they  actually,  and  by  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee,  enter  upon  its  service. 

6.  Missionaries  or  Assistant  Missionaries  who  may  be 
appointed  from  other  bodies,  will  be  expected  to  connect 
themselves  with  some  Classis  or  Church  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  In  the  case  of  the  Arabian  Mis¬ 
sion,  however,  this  shall  not  he  required,  nor  in  such  other 
cases  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Executive  Committee,  may 
warrant  a  relaxation  of  this  rule.  But  in  no  case  shall  any 
Missionary  or  Assistant  Missionary  be  appointed  who  is  not 
of  approved  piety  and  a  member,  in  good  standing,  of  a  rec¬ 
ognized  evangelical  church. 

7.  When  a  theological  student  has  received  official  no¬ 
tice  of  his  appointment,  it  is  left  with  himself  and  the  Classis 
with  which  he  is  connected,  to  arrange  for  his  ordination. 
It  is  desirable  that  the  time,  place  and  all  the  circumstances 
should  be  such  as,  in  the  highest  degree  possible,  to  awaken 
or  increase  interest  in  the  cause  and  work  of  Missions. 

*  Where  not  distinguished,  in  this  Manual ,  the  title  Missionary  include  s 
both. 


5 


8.  In  such  cases  as  may  be  deemed  expedient,  the 
Committee  will  exercise  the  right  to  employ  Missionaries  as 
agents,  before  their  embarkation,  for  the  purpose  of  intro¬ 
ducing  them  in  the  most  acceptable  manner  to  congregations, 
of  interesting  the  people  in  behalf  of  Missions,  of  promoting 
their  own  zeal  in  the  cause,  and  of  acquainting  them  with 
the  Committee’s  method  of  operation,  and  the  obstacles  with 
which  they  are  obliged  to  contend  in  supporting  Foreign 
Missions.  The  Committee  will  also  reserve  the  same  right 
to  employ  all  Missionaries  who  may  return  home  on  fur¬ 
lough,  as  agents  in  its  behalf,  so  far  as  their  health  and 
other  circumstances  will  admit.  In  all  such  cases  the  duty 
will  be  assigned  by  the  Committee,  and  proper  allowances 
made  for  the  services  performed. 

9.  The  time  of  setting  out  on  the  journey  is  to  be  set¬ 
tled  by  conference  with  the  Secretary,  with  the  approval  of 
the  Committee.  Timely  arrangements  should  be  made,  es¬ 
pecially  in  the  purchase  of  such  things  as  are  needed. 

10.  A  passport ,  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  State  at 
Washington,  is  importantand  in  many  cases  indispensable. 
It  may  be  obtained  through  a  Notary  Public,  and  every  Mis¬ 
sionary  should  attend  to  this  matter  for  himself  at  an  early 
date  after  his  appointment. 

Outfit  and  Travel. 

x.  The  Missionary  is  expected  to  purchase  his  own  out¬ 
fit ,  and  prepare  all  his  parcels  for  shipment.  The  outfit  of 
a  Missionary  consists  of  the  clothing,  bedding,  etc.,  for  use 
on  arriving  at  his  place  of  destination,  together  with  a  select 
private  library,  and  the  necessary  furniture  for  housekeep¬ 
ing.  Printed  lists  of  the  articles  most  needed  have  been 
prepared,  with  the  aid  of  representatives  of  each  Mission, 
and  will  be  sent  to  those  desiring  them.  Much  of  the  outfit, 
in  the  way  of  furniture,  and  even  of  clothing,  can  now  be 
purchased  on  the  field. 

2.  All  goods  intended  to  be  shipped  direct,  and  not  to 
accompany  the  Missionary,  should  be  packed  in  well-made 
boxes,  of  moderate  size,  securely  fastened  and  “strapped” 
(or  bound  around  the  ends  with  iron  bands).  The  boxes 
should  be  numbered,  and  a  list  kept  of  the  contents  of  each, 
with  the  value,  actual  or  estimated,  of  each  class  of  articles, 
as,  books,  $ -  ;  clothing,  $ - ;  household  linen,  § - ; 


6 


■etc.,  etc.  Copies  of  these  lists  should  be  sent  to  the  office  of 
the  Board,  for  use  at  the  Custom  House  and  the  purpose  of 
insurance. 

3.  It  is  desirable,  for  reasons  of  economy  in  freight 
charges,  etc.,  that  bulky  goods,  as  furniture,  if  bought  in 
this  country,  be  purchased  in  New  York  when  possible. 

4.  Whenever  possible  it  is  desirable  that  the  cost  of 
providing  the  outfit  be  met  by  the  family  or  friends  of  the 
■outgoing  Missionary.  Parents  who  would  have  aided  their 
children  with  funds  to  commence  housekeeping  after  mar¬ 
riage,  or  to  start  them  in  business,  had  they  remained  in  this 
country,  will  surely  not  withhold  such  aid  when  and  because 
they  become  foreign  Missionaries. 

5.  When  this  is  not  possible,  however,  the  Board  grants, 
toward  the  purchaseof  outfit,  sums  not  exceeding,  for  a  mar¬ 
ried  Missionary  and  his  wife,  $600,  and  for  a  single  man  or 
woman  $300.  This  allowance  is  to  be  used  only  for  proper 
outfit  expenses  and  is  available  within  three  months  before 
departure  for  the  field. 

It  is  recommended  that  this  outfit  grant  be  used  with 
economy,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  it  reserved  for  pur¬ 
chases  to  be  made  after  arriving  at  the  station. 

6.  In  addition  to  the  above,  an  allowance  of  $150  will 
be  made  for  surgical  outfit  to  a  medical  Missionary,  when 
necessary,  to  supplement.the  outfit  already  existing  on  the 
field.  Should  such  missionary  withdraw  from  the  service 
of  the  Board,  all  such  outfit  must  be  turned  over  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Mission,  as  the  property  of  the  Board  and 
held  subject  to  its  order. 

7.  The  outfit  allowance  of  single  Missionaries  or  fami¬ 
lies,  commissioned  to  reside  and  work  in  furnished  build¬ 
ings,  shall  be  one-half  the  above  amounts. 

8.  Should  a  Missionary  retire  from  the  field  after  a  ser¬ 
vice  of  three  years  or  less,  it  is  expected  that  an  equitable 
return  of  the  outfit  allowance  will  be  made  to  the  Board, 
due  regard  being  had  to  the  expenses  incurred  and  services 
rendered. 

9.  Money,  articles  of  clothing,  etc.,  furnished  to  Mis¬ 
sionaries  by  personal  friends,  are  not  to  be  considered  as  a 
part  of  a  Missionary  outfit,  unless  the  donors  expect  them  to 
be  acknowledged  by  the  Board  as  gifts  to  its  Treasury  for 


7 


the  cause  of  Missions.  In  this  case  they  will  be  charged  as 
a  part  of  the  outfit  allowance. 

10.  The  Board  will  bear  all  necessary  traveling  ex¬ 
penses  of  the  Missionary  from  his  residence  to  the  place  of 
embarkation,  as  well  as  those  of  the  journey  to  his  station, 
by  a  direct  route.  Should  this  be  departed  from  and  addi¬ 
tional  expense  incurred,  the  increased  cost  must  be  borne  by 
the  Missionary.  The  Board  will  also  pay  the  cost  of  freight 
of  outfit  to  the  place  of  destination  to  the  extent  only  of  six 
tons,  ship  measurement,  forty  cubic  feet  to  a  ton,  together 
with  customs  dues  on  a  sum  not  to  exceed  the  amount  of 
outfit  grant  received  from  the  Board. 

11.  On  being  advised  of  the  day  fixed  for  embarkation, 
the  Missionary  will  proceed  to  the  port  appointed,  so  as  to- 
reach  it  at  least  three  days  before  the  time  of  sailing. 

In  the  Field. 

1.  On  his  arrival  within  the  bounds  of  the  Mission  to- 
which  he  has  been  appointed,  the  Missionary  shall  report 
himself  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  Secretary  or  other  officer 
of  the  Mission  and  shall  be  subject  to  all  the  laws  and  regu¬ 
lations  established  for  the  government  of  the  same.  He 
shall  also  furnish  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mission  with  an 
account  of  all  money  received  and  expenses  incurred  for  the 
journey,  and  forward  a  copy  of  the  same  to  the  Board. 

2.  Each  person  appointed,  shall  be  allowed  for  himself 
and  family  such  salary  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  Committee 
is  required  by  his  or  their  circumstances,  and  the  cost  of  liv¬ 
ing  in  the  country  to  which  the  appointment  is  made  ;  such 
salary  shall  be  subject  to  revision  from  time  to  time,  and 
there  may  be  an  increase,  reduction  or  withdrawal,  as  the 
Committee  may  decide.  At  present  the  salary  of  each  mar¬ 
ried  Missionary  in  China  is  $t,ioo;  in  India  and  Japan  $1,200, 
Of  each  single  man  in  all  the  Missions  $700  ;  and  of  each 
single  woman  $600. 

3.  Salaries  shall  commence  from  the  day  of  the  arrival 
of  the  Missionaries  at  the  stations  to  which  they  are  appointed 
and  shall  cease  on  the  day  of  their  departure  therefrom. 
But  Missionaries  en  route,  qjtfeitrj^iiing  to  nr  returning  from 
the  field,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  one-half  the  amount  of 
their  salary,  in  addition  to  traveling  expenses. 

4.  In  addition  to  the  salary,  a  house  is  provided.  If 


8 


the  Board  own  no  house  at  the  station  to  which  he  is  as¬ 
signed,  a  sufficient  allowance  is  made  to  each  Missionary  for 
house-rent,  the  design,  in  all  cases,  being  so  to  fix  salary 
and  allowances  as  to  secure  the  comfortable  support  of  Mis¬ 
sionaries  while  in  the  service  of  the  Board,  and  no  more. 

5.  The  particular  station  and  work  of  each  Missionary 
is,  in  general, assigned  by  the  Mission  and  not  by  the  Board. 
Each  Missionary  will  be  expected  to  accept  the  position  thus 
assigned  him.  This  rule  applies,  also,  to  Assistant  Mission¬ 
aries. 

6.  Missionaries  should  give  their  first  and  special  at¬ 
tention  to  the  work  of  acquiring  accurately  the  language  of 
thecountry  to  which  they  are  sent,  and,  except  under  the  pres¬ 
sure  of  very  great  necessity,  of  which  the  Mission  shall  judge, 
no  other  work  should  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  this.  In 
beginning  and  prosecuting  their  studies  and  in  the  care  and 
preservation  of  their  health,  new  Missionaries  should  follow 
the  counsel  of  the  older  and  more  experienced  members  of 
the  Mission.  Due  attention  to  this  point  will  promote  use¬ 
fulness  and  prevent  many  failures. 

7.  Every  Missionary  is  expected  to  correspond  freely 
and  as  frequently  as  possible  with  the  Board,  and  give  such 
information  relating  to  his  work,  as  may  be  made  useful 
and  profitable  in  interesting  and  encouraging  the  Church  at 
home.  Though  this  may  make  a  considerable  draft  upon 
the  Missionary’s  time  and  strength,  no  work  is  of  greater 
importance. 

8.  No  application  shall  be  made  by  any  Missionary  to 
churches,  societies,  or  individuals  at  home  for  funds  for 
any  special  purpose,  without  the  sanction  of  the  Committee 
previously  obtained;  and  all  contributions  in  answer  to  such 
appeals,  duly  sanctioned,  must  pass  through  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Board. 

9.  No  Missionary  shall  engage  in  any  secular  employ¬ 
ment,  nor  in  any  religious  employment  distinct  from  that  of 
the  Mission  to  which  he  has  been  appointed,  without  first 
obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Mission,  and  holding  the  same 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Committee.  If 
such  work  brings  him  any  pecuniary  compensation,  the 
money  so  received  should  be  turned  over  to  the  treasury  of 
the  Mission  and  reported  to  the  Board,  so  long  as  he  con¬ 
tinues  to  draw  his  usual  salary. 


9 


10.  Medical  Missionaries  shall  constantly  make  their 
practice  of  medicine  among  the  natives  conduce  to  the 
advancement  of  the  Missionary  work.  If  receiving  a  fixed 
salary  from  the  Board,  any  fees  which  they  may  receive  for 
medical  service  should  be  turned  over  to  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Mission  and  reported  to  the  Board. 

n.  The  Board,  through  its  officers,  is  always  ready  to 
discharge  such  commissions,  in  the  purchase  and  shipping 
of  goods,  payment  of  bills,  etc.,  etc.,  as  may  be  confided  to 
it  by  any  of  its  Missionaries  in  the  field,  and  receive  and 
transmit  funds  for  their  personal  use.  But  the  purchase 
and  forwarding  of  goods  from  this  country  through  Mission 
Agencies,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  persons  not  members 
of  our  own,  or  neighboring  Missions,  are  open  to  serious 
objections.  No  such  commissions  will,  therefore,  be  at¬ 
tended  to,  and  none  such  should  be  sent. 

12.  Missionaries  regularly  appointed  by  the  Board, 
and  laboring  in  connection  with  its  Missions,  but  sup¬ 
ported  either  in  part  or  wholly  by  o'her  funds  than  those 
of  the  Board,  will  be  expected  to  conform  to  the  same 
rules  as  other  Missionaries  so  long  as  they  retain  such 
connection. 


Recall ,  Vacations  and  Return. 

1.  Whenever  the  continuance  of  any  Missionary  at  a 
foreign  station  shall  be  deemed  inexpedient  in  the  judgment 
of  the  Committee,  they  will  reserve  the  right  to  cancel  the 
appointment,  and  will  be  at  the  expense  of  the  return  to  this 
country  of  the  person  whose  appointment  shall  have  been  so 
annulled. 

2.  Missionaries  are  expected  conscientiously  to  care  for 
their  health,  taking  such  rests  and  vacations  in  the  vicinity 
of  their  Mission  fields  as  are  necessary  for  this  purpose  and 
approved  by  the  Mission.  When  Missionaries  take  such 
rest  or  vacation  with  the  approval  of  the  Mission,  their 
salary  and  allowances  shall  continue  as  usual  and  their 
traveling  expenses  shall  be  paid  by  the  Mission. 

3.  While  appointments  are  usually  made  for  life,  yet 
occasional  furloughs,  embracing  a  return  to  the  United 
States,  are  not  only  proper,  but  on  many  accounts  desirable. 
The  frequency  of  such  furloughs  will  depend  in  part,  upon 


the  physical  condition  of  the  Missionaries,  and  in  part  upon 
the  location  and  climate  of  the  Mission.  A  first  term  of  ser¬ 
vice  in  the  field  may  properly,  probably  ought  to,  be 
shorter  than  succeeding  terms.  No  uniform  time  for  fur¬ 
loughs  has  been  fixed  upon.  They  should,  however,  be  so 
arranged  in  each  Mission,  as  to  give  all  the  Missionaries 
equal  privileges,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  and  interfere  as  little 
as  possible  with  the  work  of  the  Mission,  as  also  to  avoid 
the  absence  from  the  field  and  the  presence  in  this  country 
of  too  many  of  the  members  of  any  one  Mission  at  the  same 
time.  It  is  desirable  that  they  cover  absence  from  the  field 
during  two  hot  seasons. 

4.  When  a  Missionary  shall  desire,  on  account  of  ill 
health  or  for  any  other  cause,  a  furlough  to  return  to  the 
United  States,  he  is  required  to  obtain  permission  from  the 
Executive  Committee  so  to  do,  when  it  is  practicable,  (always 
sending  with  his  request  the  opinion  of  his  Mission),  and 
when  impracticable  to  obtain  such  permission,  he  is  required 
to  obtain  the  consent  of  his  Mission,  which  consent  shall  al¬ 
ways  be  subject  to  the  revision  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

5.  In  all  ordinary  cases  furloughs  are  for  one  year  only, 
in  addition  to  the  time  required  for  a  direct  journey  home 
and  return  to  the  field.  This  time  may  be  extended  when 
the  health  of  the  parties  requires  it,  or  for  other  satisfactory 
reasons.  But  in  all  such  cases  application  should  be  made 
to  the  Committee  for  such  extension,  stating  the  reasons 
therefor,  before  the  expiration  of  the  regular  time  allowed. 

6.  The  traveling  expenses  of  Missionaries  returning 
on  furlough,  with  the  approval  of  the  Committee,  by  a  direct 
route,  shall  be  paid  by  the  Board.  They  shall  also  be  per¬ 
mitted  to  draw,  while  without  salary  on  their  way  home,  an 
aMowanoe  equal  to  one-half  of  their  salary  for  the  time 
spent  on  the  journey  to  cover  cost  of  clothing  and  inci¬ 
dental  expenses. 

7.  The  Committee  will  make  such  allowance  for  the 
support  of  Missionaries  during  their  stay  in  this  country  on 
furlough,  as  the  circumstances  of  each  case  may  require  and 
the  means  of  the  Board  allow.  This  allowance  shall  date 
from  the  time  of  arrival  in  the  United  States,  shall  be  for 
one  year  only,  unless  regularly  renewed,  and  shall  be 
charged  to  the  Missions  to  which  they  belong  as  a  part  of 
the  expenses  of  said  Mission. 


it 


8.  Where  special  medical  or  surgical  treatment  is 
needed  by  Missionaries  in  this  country,  the  cost  of  such 
treatment  will  be  borne  by  the  Board,  and  the  amount  so 
paid  shall  be  charged  to  the  Mission  to  which  they  belong, 
as  a  part  of  the  appropriation  for  medical  bills. 

9.  Missionaries  at  home  on  furlough  shall  be,  at  all 
times,  welcome  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Board  or  of  the 
Executive  Committee  and  to  impart  such  information  or 
suggestions  in  regard  to  the  work  as  may  be  desired.  Their 
presence  may  be  specially  invited  when  matters  of  import¬ 
ance  relating  to  their  own  Missions  are  under  discussion. 

Return  to  the  Feild. 

1.  When  Missionaries  return  to  their  fields,  the  Board 
will  defray  their  traveling  expenses  from  their  home  or 
place  of  residence  by  the  usual  and  direct  route  of  travel. 
The  Board,  however,  does  not  engage  to  pay  the  traveling 
expenses  of  children  who  are  returning  to  the  Missionary 
field  after  they  have  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  unless 
they  return  as  Missionaries.  In  this  case  they  shall  be  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  same  rules  for  appointment  as  other  Missionaries. 

2.  Missionaries  who  have  been  continuously  in  the  ser¬ 
vice  of  the  Board  for  ten  years  shall  be  allowed  one  half  the 
regular  outfit  grant  for  refit.  In  case  of  necessity,  a  similar 
grant  may  be  made  to  others,  in  the  discretion  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee.  The  cost  of  freight  on  such  refit,  to  the  place  of  desti¬ 
nation,  will  be  paid  by  the  Board,  to  the  extent  of  three  tons 
of  forty  cubic  feet  each,  together  with  customs  dues  on  a 
sum  equal  to  the  amount  of  the  grant. 

Retirement. 

1.  When  Missionaries  or  Assistant  Missionaries  return 
home,  their  connection  with  the  Board  shall  cease  as  soon  as 
there  is  no  longer  a  reasonable  probability  of  their  returning 
to  their  missionary  labor. 

2.  When  superannuated  or  disabled  Missionaries, 
widows  of  Missionaries  or  other  Assistant  Missionaries, 
return  finally  to  this  country  with  the  approbation  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee 
to  make  such  grants  toward  their  support,  as  the  circum¬ 
stances  of  each  case  shall  require,  and  as  shall  best  comport 
with  the  missionary  character  and  the  interests  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  cause  ; — it  being  understood  ; 


12 


1st.  That  no  pensions  or  annuities  are  to  be  settled  on 
any  person,  and  that  no  grant  is  to  be  made,  except  in 
extraordinary  cases,  for  any  other  than  the  current  year. 

2d.  That,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  after  the  lapse 
of  a  year  from  their  return,  no  grant  is  to  be  made  to 
returned  Missionaries  or  Assistant  Missionaries,  who  are 
neither  superannuated,  nor  disabled  by  sickness,  and  yet  are 
not  expected  to  resume  their  missionary  labors. 

3d.  That  Missionaries  and  Assistant  Missionaries,  who 
return  on  account  of  sickness,  and  recover  their  health, 
and  remain  in  this  country,  are  no  longer  to  be  regarded  as 
having  claims  upon  the  Board  for  pecuniary  assistance. 

4th.  That  Missionaries  and  Assistant  Missionaries,  who 
return  on  account  of  sickness,  and  partially  recover  their 
•  health  so  as  to  attend  to  the  ordinary  business  of  life  for  a 
number  of  years,  are  not  to  be  regarded,  when  they  again 
lose  their  health,  as  having  the  same  claims  upon  the  Board 
as  they  had  when  they  first  arrived. 

Children  of  Missionaries. 

1.  In  addition  to  salary,  an  allowance  of  $roo  is  made 
for  each  child  while  it  remains  on  the  field,  or  is  with  its 
parents  at  home,  to  the  age  of  10,  and  $150  from  10  to  18 
years. 

2.  When  Missionaries  desire  to  send  their  children  to 
this  country  for  education  and  when  it  is  decided  in  a  man¬ 
ner  conformable  to  the  rules  and  usages  of  the  Board  that 
the  children  may  come,  the  arrangements  for  the  passage,  so 
far  as  they  involve  expense,  shall  have  the  concurrence  of 
the  Mission,  and  the  allowance,  extraordinary  cases  excepted, 
shall  be  only  for  a  passage  direct  to  this  country,  and  such 
clothing  and  stores  as  may  be  required  for  the  voyage. 

3.  When  the  children  arrive  in  this  country,  the  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee  will  see  that  they  have  a  suitable  conveyance 
to  the  places  where  they  are  to  be  educated  or  to  reside  ; 
and  the  Committee  will  make  grants,  on  applications  from 
the  parents  or  guardians,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  .$150  a 
year  for  each  child,  until  the  children  are  fourteen  years  old, 
when  the  grant  may  be  $200  till  the  age  of  eighteen  The 
same  rule  applies  to  children  who  remain  in  this  country 
when  their  parents  return  to  the  fie'd.  In  special  cases, 
and  upon  application,  the  Committee  is  authorized  to  con- 


13 


tinue  this  grant,  for  educational  purpo-es,  to  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  This  grant  ceases  when  the  Missionary  ceases 
to  he  connected  with  the  Board.  But  the  children  of  Mis- 
sionari-s  who  have  died  in  the  service  shall  be  entitled  to 
receive  it.  when  necessary,  undrr  the  same  limitations  as  to 
age. 

4.  Children,  who  are  left  orphans,  and  without  a  suit¬ 
able  home  in  the  Mission,  or  responsible  guardians,  will 
receive  the  immediate  and  kind  consideration  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee,  who  will  make  an  arrangement  for  their  return 
home,  and  provide  for  them  the  best  guardianship  in  their 
power. 

5.  The  allowances  made  on  account  of  the  children  of 
living  Missionaries,  wherever  the  children  may  be  educated, 
shall  be  charged  to  the  Mission  to  which  the  parents  belong  ; 
and  the  allowances  made  on  account  of  orphan  children 
shall,  inordinary  cases,  be  charged  to  the  Mission  to  which 
the  parents  belonged  at  the  time  of  their  decease. 

III.  Constitution,  etc.,  of  Missions. 

1.  When  three  or  more  Missionaries  are  located  near 
each  other,  they  shall  organize  themselves  for  business  as 
a  Mission,  by  the  choice  of  a  President,  a  Secretary,  arid 
T reasurer.  No  native  shall  be  a  member  of  or  take  part  in  the 
action  of  such  Mission. 

2.  A  majority  of  men  (Missionaries)  in  any  Mission 
shall,  in  the  regular  meetings,  decide  all  questions  that  may 
arise  in  regard  to  their  proceedings  and  conduct  in  which 
the  Mission  is  interested,  the  decision  being  subject  to  the 
revision  of  the  Executive  Committee.  The  women  of  the 
Mission  (Assistant  Missionaries),  however,  who  are  actively 
engaged  in  Mission  work,  are  entitled  to  attend  all  Mission 
meetings  and  to  vote  on  all  questions  relating  to  the  work 
in  which  they  are  engaged.  No  Missionary  or  Assistant 
Miss.onary  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  till  after  one  year’s 
service  in  connection  with  the  Mission,  and  until  the  lan¬ 
guage  examinations  of  the  first  year  shall  have  been  passed. 

The  Mission  Treasurer. 

1.  The  Treasurer  shall  forward  to  the  Committee,  at 
the  close  of  each  year,  a  detailed  report  of  all  cash  received 
from  every  source,  or  drafts  drawn,  and  of  all  payments  ; 


14 


together  with  a  particular  statement  of  the  nature,  condition 
and  estimated  value  of  the  property  belonging  to  the  Mission ; 
duly  audited  by  a  Committee  a'  pointed  for  the  purpose. 

He  is  to  keep,  in  official  books  procured  at  Mission 
expense,  and  to  be  the  property  of  the  Board,  clear  and  cor¬ 
rect  accounts  of  all  receipts  and  payments,  and  to  have 
vouchers  of  the  latter  ;  his  books  must  be  open  to  the  inspec¬ 
tion  of  other  members  of  the  Mission,  or  any  one  of  them  at 
any  time  ;  and  his  accounts  must  be  audited  by  a  Committee 
of  two  members  appointed  each  year  for  this  purpose. 

2.  Thf*  treasurer  will  on  no  account  be  permitted  to  ex¬ 
ceed  in  expenditure  the  amount  annually  appropriated  for  the 
suppurt  of  the  Mission,  except  in  imperative  circumstances, 
and  then  only  with  the  consent  of  the  Mission,  and  subject 
to  the  final  judgment  of  the  Executive  Committee  When 
such  excess  can  be  plainly  anticipated,  the  fact  should  at 
once  be  notified  to  the  Board. 

3  In  general,  drafts  upon  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board 
by  individual  Missionaries,  are  not  desirable.  If  any  Mis¬ 
sionary  wishes  to  remit  to  this  country  in  payment  of  bills 
or  for  goods  ordered  or  other  purposes,  he  is  required  to  do 
so,  if  possible,  by  means  of  the  Mission  Treasurer’s  drafts 
upon  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

4.  No  real  estate  shall  be  purchased  or  leased  by  a 
member  of  any  Mission  for  the  account  of  the  same,  without 
the  express  permission  of  the  Comm  ittee  previously  obtained  ; 
and  all  property  so  acquired  shall  be  held  in  trust  for,  or  in 
the  name  of,  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  ol  the  Reformed 
Church  in  America. 

5  Each  Missionary  conducting  schools,  hospitals  and 
similar  Missionary  operations  in  connection  with  our  Mis¬ 
sions.  shall  give  to  the  Mission  Treasurer  a  yearly  account 
of  all  money  received  from  any  source  and  expended  for 
such  operations. 

6.  All  appropriations  lapse  at  the  close  of  the  year  for 
which  they  are  made.  All  unexpended  balances  shou.d  be 
placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Board,  and  applied  to  the  appro¬ 
priations  for  the  new  year.  But  in  the  case  of  buildings 
or  other  special  work  actually  in  progress,  and  which  of 
necessity  cannot  be  completed  by  the  close  of  the  year,  the 
amount  appropriated  for  their  completion  may  be  reserved 
for  that  purpose  and  reported  to  the  Board. 


15 


7.  No  funds  of  the  Board  shall  be  loaned  to  outs:de 
parties. 

Estimates. 

1.  Each  Mission  shall  prepare,  in  such  manner  as  is 
most  convenient  every  year,  a  careful  estimate  of  the  proba¬ 
ble  necessary  expenses  for  the  work  of  the  year  ensuing, 
specifying  the  different  objects  in  detail,  to  be  forwarded  so 
as  to  reach  the  Board  not  later  than  the  first  of  October.  Each 
station  in  the  Mission  shall  prepare  its  estimate  of  expendi¬ 
tures  for  the  year.  These  shall  be  submitted  to  and  care¬ 
fully  examined  by  the  Mission  and  from  these,  when 
approved,  the  general  estimates  shall  be  made. 

2.  In  furnishing  these  yearly  estimates,  the  Missions 
are  expected  and  requested  to  include  in  them  only  such 
objects  as  are  indispensable  to  the  maintenance  of  the  actual 
work  of  the  Mission  in  a  condition  of  proper  efficiency. 
These  estimates  when  approved,  and  the  amounts  appropria¬ 
ted  by  the  Board,  will  govern  the  expenditure  of  the  year, 
and  must  not  be  exceeded. 

3.  In  addition  to  the  regular  estimates,  the  Missions 
are  authorized  and  requested  to  accompany  them  with  a 
statement  of  such  other  objects,  with  their  estimated  cost, 
and  in  the  order  of  their  importance,  as  may  seem  to  them 
most  pressing  and  necessary  for  the  further  development  of 
their  work : — these  statements  to  form  the  basis  of  such  addi¬ 
tional  appropriations  as  the  Board  may,  from  time  to  time, 
be  able  to  make. 

4.  No  application  for  an  additional  appropriation  on 
the  part  of  any  individual  Missionary,  will  in  any  case  be 
considered  by  the  Board,  which  has  not  first  been  submitted 
to  the  Mission  and  its  action  thereon,  whether  favorable  or 
otherwise,  transmitted  to  the  Board. 

A ppeals. 

1.  The  Board,  while  reserving  the  right  to  revise,  ap¬ 
prove  or  annul  the  decisions  of  the  Missions,  yet  earnestly 
desires  and  hopes  that  questions  relating  to  the  general  con¬ 
duct  of  the  Missions  or  the  work  of  individual  Missionaries, 
may  be  satisfactorily  settled  on  the  field.  The  right,  how¬ 
ever,  of  each  Missionary  is  fully  recognized,  to  appeal  to  the 
Board  from  a  decision  of  the  Mission  by  which  he  may  feel 
himself  aggrieved,  or  which  he  may  conceive  to  be  injurious 
to  the  work. 

16 


2.  Every  Missionary  so  appealing,  shall  give  to  the 
Mission  due  notice  of  his  intention,  and  shall  file  with  it  a 
copy  of  all  the  papers  which  he  proposes  to  send  to  the  Board 
in  ample  time  for  the  Mission  to  prepare  a  reply,  of  which 
he  shall  also  receive  a  copy. 

3.  Pending  the  Board’s  decision  in  such  a  case,  no  ac¬ 
tion  shall  be  taken,  unless  imperatively  demanded,  which 
will  change  established  conditions,  the  appeal  in  all  ordinary 
cases  operating  as  a  “  stay  of  proceedings.”  When  action 
of  some  kind,  however,  seems  to  be  imperative,  the  Mission 
shall  immediately  make  full  report  to  the  Board  of  the  fact 
and  nature  of  the  action  and  the  reasons  therefor. 

Correspondence ,  Reports,  Etc. 

1.  In  all  Missions  a  letter  should  be  sent  to  the  Board 
once  a  month,  giving  news  of  the  Missionary  work,  that  the 
Board  may  be  kept  constantly  and  fully  informed  of  its  state 
and  progress. 

2.  Each  Mission  shall  prepare  an  annual  report  which 
shall  give,  in  as  brief  and  clear  a  manner  as  possible,  a  view 
of  the  work  in  the  entire  field  during  the  year.  It  should 
present,  in  tabular  statement,  the  number  and  names  of  sta¬ 
tions  and  out-stations,  churches,  schools  (Sunday,  day 
and  boarding),  the  number  of  baptisms  during  the  year,  of 
communicants,  received  on  confession  and  letter — dismis¬ 
sions  and  total  in  communion,  scholars  (distinguishing 
between  boarding,  day  and  Sunday  scholars,  male  and 
female),  with  a  list  of  the  Missionaries,  Assistant  Mission¬ 
aries,  native  Pastors,  Helpers  and  Teachers  at  each  station, 
and  such  other  itemsof  information  as  may  be  deemed  valu¬ 
able. 

3.  In  order  to  secure  uniformity  in  the  Mission  Reports, 
each  Mission  is  requested  to  appoint  annually  a  Committee 
to  whom  all  individual  and  station  reports  of  work  done 
during  the  year  shall  be  submitted,  and  by  whom  a  revised 
and  condensed  report,  based  upon  these,  covering  the  whole 
field  and  embracing  such  other  matters  pertaining  to  the 
interests  of  the  Mission  as  may  properly  claim  their  attention, 
shall  be  prepared.  This  report,  when  presented  to  and 
approved  by  the  Mission,  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  Board, 
and  should,  in  all  cases,  be  sent  so  as  to  reach  the  Board  not 
later  than  the  first  of  April. 


17 


4.  In  the  publication  of  all  matters  relating  to  the  policy 
of  the  Board  in  the  raising  and  distributing  of  funds,  such 
publications,  or  communications  intended  for  publication 
should  first  be  submitted  to  the  Executive  Committee. 

5.  At  the  end  of  the  first  and  second  years  after  the 
arrival  of  a  new  Missionary,  the  Mission  is  requested  to 
ascertain  and  make  report  to  the  Board  in  regard  to  his  pro¬ 
gress  in  the  acquisition  of  the  native  language,  and  his 
knowledge  and  skill  in  its  practical  use.  It  should  be  under¬ 
stood  that  the  ability  to  read,  and  especially  to  speak,  the  lan¬ 
guage  with  reasonable  ease  and  accuracy  is  an  indispensa¬ 
ble  qualification  for  Missionary  work,  without  which  no  one 
can  expect  to  continue  in  the  service  of  the  Board  or  the 
enjoyment  of  its  support. 

6.  Missionaries  should  carefully  abstain  from  all  inter¬ 
ference  with  the  political  affairs  and  institutions  of  the  peo¬ 
ple  among  whom  they  labor. 

7.  It  is  a  principle  with  the  Board  that  its  Missionaries 
seek  to  maintain  friendly  relations  with  those  of  other  Socie¬ 
ties,  and  especially  that  they  associate  themselves  as  closely 
as  possible  with  those  of  like  faith  and  order,  laboring  in  the 
same  field. 


APPENDIX  I. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE 

Board  •  of  •  Foreign  •  Missions. 

Approved  by  the  General  Synod,  October,  1857. 

WITH 

I^ules  of  Business. 


PREA/IBLE. 

Whereas  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Divine  Head  of 
the  Church,  has  enjoined  on  all  His  people  the  duty  of  giving 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature  ;  and,  Whereas  the  condition  of 
all  men  without  the  Gospel  is  one  of  exposure  to  eternal 
death,  as  well  as  of  present  suffering  and  sorrow — Therefore, 
under  the  conviction  of  duty,  and  with  earnest  desire  for  the 
best  interests  of  our  fellow  men  here  and  hereafter — the 
General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  acknowledg¬ 
ing  with  gratitude  what  God  has  been  pleased  to  accomplish 
by  the  Church,  deems  it  important  in  entering  on  a  distinct 
and  separate  management  and  support  of  Foreign  Missions, 
tore-model  its  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  with  a  view  to 
greater  efficiency  and  a  more  faithful  conformity  to  the  Di¬ 
vine  requirement,  and  adopts  the  following,  viz  : 

CONSTITUTION. 

Art.  1.  The  management  and  control  of  the  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church,  as  well 
as  the  institution  of  new  Missions,  and  the  appointment  of 
Missionaries,  shall  be  committed  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  subject  to  the  revision  and  instruction  of  the  Gen 
eral  Synod. 


Art .  2.  This  Board  shall  not  be  restricted  in  the  sending 
of  Missionaries  to  any  part  of  the  world,  or  to  any  class  of 
persons  who  are  without  a  pure  Gospel,  when  Divine  Provi¬ 
dence  opens  the  way  to  them,  and  the  men  and  means  are 
furnished. 

Art.  3.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  consist  of 
twenty-four  members  (of  whom  one-third  shall  be  chosen  at 
each  meeting  of  the  General  Synod),  (with  the  Correspond¬ 
ing  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  who  shall  be  ex-officio  members). 

Art.  4.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  hold  its 
first  meeting  each  year  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  General  Synod,  at  which  the  officers  for  the  year 
shall  be  chosen. 

Art.  5.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  have 
authority  to  employ  ordained  Ministers  and  Licentiates,  the 
wife  of  each  of  whom  shall  be  regarded  as  an  Assistant 
Missionary  ;  Physicians,  Colporteurs,  Printers,  unmarried 
Female  Teachers,  all  to  be  at  the  time  of  appointment,  mem¬ 
bers  in  communion  with  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch 
Church,  or,  having  taken  the  measures  necessary  to  become 
such— and  all  proper  agencies  for  raising  means  in  our 
Churches  for  the  support  of  the  Missions,  and  the  use  of  the 
Press,  both  at  home  and  aboard. 

Art.  6.  Any  person  by  the  contribution  of  Fifty  Dollars 
at  one  time  may  become  a  member  for  life  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions,  and  shall  have  the  privilege  of  meeting 
with  the  Board,  and  participating  in  its  deliberations,  with¬ 
out  being  entitled  to  vote. 

Art.  7.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  submit  to 
the  General  Synod,  at  each  annual  meeting,  a  faithful  report 
of  its  acts,  with  the  annual  account  of  the  Treasurer, properly 
audited,  and  submit  for  approval  such  plans  and  measures 
as  may  require  the  specific  attention  of  the  General  Synod. 
The  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  be  present  at  each  meet- 
of  the  Synod, to  make  such  explanations  as  maybe  called  for. 

Art.  8.  It  shall  be  the  steady  aim  of  the  Board  of  For¬ 
eign  Missions  to  secure  as  early  as  may  be  wise  the  organi¬ 
zation  by  the  Missionaries  of  Churches,  Classes,  and  other 
Church  Courts,  according  to  the  order  of  the  Reformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church. 

Art.  9.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  meet  at 
least  quarterly,  at  such  hour  and  place  as  it  may  itself  agree 


20 


on,  and  when  convened,  seven  members  shall  constitute  a 
quorum. 

Art.  io.  The  Board  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies, 
which  may  occur  in  the  progress  of  the  year,— the  person 
chosen  to  hold  such  place  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Synod. 

Art.  ii.  Extra  meetings  of  the  Board  may  be  called  on 
the  vote  of  the  Executive  Committee,  or  the  written  request 
of  any  three  members. 

RULES  OF  BUSINESS. 

Art.  i.  This  Board  shall  convene  as  early  as  practica¬ 
ble  after  each  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Synod. 

Art.  2.  At  such  meeting  the  Board  shall  choose,by  ballot, 
a  President,  a  Vice-President,  Recording  Secretary,  a  Corre¬ 
sponding  Secretary,  a  Treasurer  and  an  Executive  Commit¬ 
tee. 

Art.  3.  The  meetings  shall  be  held  at  least  quarterly, 
to  wit  :  On  the  third  Wednesday  of  November,  February  and 
May,  and  the  first  convenient  Wednesday  after  the  adjourn¬ 
ment  of  the  General  Synod,  at  such  place  and  hour  as  fixed 
by  its  own  vote,  and  at  such  meetings  seven  members  shall 
constitute  a  quorum. 

Art.  4.  The  Board  at  its  several  meetings  shall  review 
and  decide  upon  all  the  proceedings  of  its  officers,  and  of  the 
Executive  Committee  ;  direct  to  such  measures  as  it  may 
deem  important,  and  present  an  Annual  Report  of  its  doings 
to  the  General  Synod. 

Art.  5.  The  Board  shall  leave  all  matters  properly 
ecclesiastical  to  the  Classes  to  which  they  belong,  or  may 
refer  the  same  to  the  General  Synod. 

Art.  6.  The  seat  of  operations  of  the  Board  shall  be  the 
City  of  New  York. 

THE  CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  to 
conduct  all  the  correspondence  with  the  Missions  and 
Churches  (excepting  that  which  belongs  to  the  Treasurer)  ; 
to  keep  files  of  all  letters  and  papers  ;  to  arrange  and  bring 
up  all  such  business  as  requires  the  attention  of  the  Board 
and  the  Executive  Committee,  and  submit  such  documents 
as  may  be  necessary  for  the  information  of  either  ;  to  keep 


21 


memoranda  of  his  work,  which  may  be  referred  to  by  either 
when  desired  ;  to  prepare  and  submit  the  Annual  Report  to 
the  Board,  attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  ; 
to  visit  as  circumstances  may  allow  the  Theological  Semi¬ 
naries  at  New  Brunswick  and  Holland,  Rutgers,  Hope, 
Union  and  other  Colleges,  where  the  young  men  of  our 
Church  receive  their  education,  with  a  view  to  securing  suita¬ 
ble  young  men  for  the  Missionary  service,  and  to  take  the 
oversight  of  such  periodicals  as  may  be  issued,  in  connection 
with  such  others  as  the  Board  may  appoint. 

THE  TREASURER, 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  receive  and  keep 
faithful  accounts  of  all  moneys  received  and  paid  ;  the 
former  to  be  published  monthly  in  the  papers  of  the  Church 
and  of  the  Board  ;  to  keep  a  record  of  all  life  members,  and 
furnish  necessary  certificates  ;  to  take  charge  of  and  for¬ 
ward  to  Missionaries  all  articles  sent  to  him  from  the 
Churches,  or  from  individuals  ;  to  purchase  and  forward  to 
Missions  such  as  they  may  order,  charging  the  same  to  the 
account  of  the  party  ordering  them  ;  to  submit  at  each  stated 
meeting  of  the  Board  and  Executive  Committee  the  state  of 
the  funds  ;  to  present  at  each  meeting  bills  requiring  the 
action  of  either,  and  only  pay  the  same  when  so  ordered  by 
either  ;  to  bring  up  for  consideration  at  the  proper  time 
what  remittances  may  be  needed  for  the  Missions,  or  what 
exchanges  or  bills  may  be  required,— but  he  shall  negotiate 
none  without  the  order  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and 
with  the  advice  and  approbation  of  the  Finance  Committee, 
and  shall  assume  no  obligations  without  their  direction  or 
assent. 

He  shall  keep  all  notes,  bonds,  deeds,  and  other  evi¬ 
dences  of  property,  invest  or  deposit  money  as  may  be 
directed,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Finance  Committee  ; 
exhibit  his  books,  accounts  and  vouchers,  and  evidences  of 
property  whenever  required  by  the  Board  or  the  Executive 
Committee  ;  submit  an  annual  statement  of  his  accounts  to 
the  Board  at  its  meeting  immediately  preceding  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  General  Synod  ;  conduct  the  correspondence 
relating  immediately  to  his  department,  and  perform  such 
acts  as  are  necessary  to  the  faithful  execution  of  the  duties 
of  his  office. 


22 


He  shall  enter  in  a  distinct  record  the  appropriations 
which  may  be  made  from  year  to  year  for  each  Mission  and 
Missionary — for  his  own  use,  and  that  of  the  Board  or  Exec¬ 
utive  Committee,  or  the  General  Synod. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Art.  i.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  consist  of  five 
clergymen  and  five  laymen,  members  of  the  Board,  together 
with  the  President  of  the  Board,  who  shall  be,  ex  officio,  a 
member  of  the  same,  shall  meet  at  least  monthly,  at  such 
hour  and  place  as  it  may  itself  appoint,  and  five  members 
shall  constitute  a  quorum.  Special  meetings,  of  which  due 
notice  shall  be  sent  to  every  member,  may  be  called  by  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  when  necessary. 

Art.  2.  The  Executive  Committee  shall1  be  charged 
with  the  execution  of  the  resolutions  and  instructions  of  the 
General  Synod,  and  of  the  Board  ;  shall  select  fields  of  labor, 
appoint  the  Missionaries,  direct  their  labors,  and  fix  their 
compensation  ;  shall  give  permissions  to  return,  or  recall 
any  ;  authorize  the  payment  of  moneys — appoint  and  direct 
agents,  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  printing  of 
such  documents  or  papers  as  they  may  deem  necessary  ; 
shall  keep  records  of  all  its  proceedings,  and  lay  the  same 
quarterly  before  the  Board  of  Foreign  Misssions  for  its  ap¬ 
proval  or  correction. 

Art.  3.  While  the  Executive  Committee  are  not  respon¬ 
sible  for  what  by  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  belongs  to 
the  Classis,  and  shall  not  interfere  in  the  same — it  shall  have 
entire  control  over  Missions  (though  a  Classis  is  organized), 
and  reserve  to  itself  to  decide  on  the  course  and  policy  of 
each  Missionary,  or  any  laborer  receiving  its  aid  ;  and  with¬ 
hold  or  modify  the  same,  subject  to  the  Board  and  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Synod. 

Art.  4.  For  the  greater  success  of  its  work,  the  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee  shall  appoint  from  its  own  number  a  Com¬ 
mittee  of  Finance  of  three  members,  who  shall  be  the  coun" 
selors  of  the  Treasurer  in  all  questions  of  investment,  lega¬ 
cies,  and  negotiations  of  drafts,  and  without  whose  appro¬ 
bation  he  shall  not  act  in  the  same.  They  shall  audit  the 
Treasurer’s  annual  account,  watch  over  the  financial 
interests  of  the  Board,  and  report  at  any  stated  meeting  of 
the  Executive  Committee  such  matters  as  may  require  its 


23 


action.  They  shall  examine  all  estimates  for  appropriations 
to  Missions  and  Missionaries,  and  report  their  judgment 
concerning  them. 

Art.  5.  As  the  General  Synod  has  its  Board  of  Publica¬ 
tion,  the  Executive  Committee  shall  in  all  cases  where  prac¬ 
ticable,  make  through  a  suitable  Committee,  arrangements 
with  such  Board  for  its  printing. 

Art.  6.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  a  faithful 
and  particular  record  of  all  the  acts  of  the  Board,  carefully 
file  and  preserve  all  documents  ordered  to  be  filed,  issue  the 
necessary  notices  for  all  stated  and  special  meetings,  and 
submit  his  record  at  each  stated  meeting  of  the  Board. 

Art.  7.  The  order  of  business,  both  in  the  Board  and  in 
the  Executive  Committee,  shall  be  as  follows  : 

1.  Prayer. 

2.  Reading  of  the  Minutes  for  Information. 

3.  Statement  of  the  Treasurer. 

4.  Report  of  the  Finance  Committee. 

5.  Communications  and  Business  of  the  Corresponding 
Secretary. 

6.  Reports  of  Committees. 

7.  Miscellaneous  Business. 

S.  Reading  and  Approval  of  the  Minutes. 

9.  Prayer. 

10.  Adjournment. 


Appendix  II. 

ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church. 

Passed ,  pril  7,  i860. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Sec.  1.  William  B.  Crosby,  Thos.  De  Witt,  Jeremiah 
S.  Lord,  Wm.  W.  Halloway,  Sanford  Cobb,  Jr.,  Alexander 
R.  Thompson,  D.  McL.  Quackenbush,  Ab’m  J.  Beekman, 
Ezra  A.  Hayt,  A.  P.  Van  Gieson,  John  T.  Moore,  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  E.  P.  Rogers,  Isaac  Ferris,  Abram  B.  Pres¬ 
ton,  Thos.  M.  Strong,  J.  J.  Johnson,  D.  D.  Demarest,  citizens 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  such  others  as  they  may  as¬ 
sociate  with  themselves,  are  hereby  constituted  a  body  cor- 

H 


porate  and  politic  forever  ;  by  the  name  of  the  Board  of  For¬ 
eign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church,  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  and  conducting  Christian  mis¬ 
sions  among  the  unevangelized  or  pagan  nations,  and  the 
general  diffusion  of  Christianity  ;  and  by  that  name  they  and 
their  successors  and  associates  shall  be  capable  of  taking  by 
purchase,  grant,  devise  or  otherwise,  holding,  conveying,  or 
otherwise  disposing  of  any  real  or  personal  estate  for  the 
purposes  of  the  said  Corporation.  But  which  estate,  within 
this  State,  shall  not,  at  any  time,  exceed  the  annual  income 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  Corporation  shall  possess  the  general 
powers,  rights  and  privileges,  and  be  subject  to  the  liabili¬ 
ties  and  provisions  contained  in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of 
the  first  part  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  so  far  as  the  same  are 
applicable. 

Sec.  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


Appendix  III. 

LAWS  OF  NEW  YORK.— BY  AUTHORITY. 


Chap.  217. 

An  Act  to  change  the  name  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 

Missions  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  to 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 

America.” 

Passed  April  15,  1873. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Sec.  1.  The  corporate  name  of  the  association  incorpo¬ 
rated  as  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church  by  an  act  passed  on  the  sev¬ 
enth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty 
is  hereby  changed  to  the  “  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of 
the  Reformed  Church  in  America.” 

Sec.  2.  Nolhing  contained  in  this  act  shall  be  held  in 
any  manner  to  affect  any  of  the  rights,  powers  or  liabili¬ 
ties  of  the  association  as  now  incorporated,  nor  any 
existing  suits. 

Sec  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


25 


State  of  New  York,  \ 

Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  1  ss‘ 

I  have  compared  the  preceding  with  the  original  law  on 
file  in  this  office,  and  do  hereby  certify  that  the  same  is  a 
correct  transcript  therefrom  and  of  the  whole  of  said  orig¬ 
inal  law. 

G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER, 

Secretary  of  State. 

Appendix  IV. 

Chap.  553. 

[ Laws  of  1890.] 

An  Act  to  amend  Chapter  one  hundred  and  ninety-one 
of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-nine,  entitled 
14  An  act  to  limit  the  amount  of  property  to  be  held  by  cor¬ 
porations  organized  for  other  than  business  purposes,”  and 
relating  to  such  corporations. 


Approved  by  the  Governor ,  June  7,  iSgo.  Passed ,  three-Jifths 

being  present. 


The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented 
in  Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Sec.  1.  Chapter  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  of  the  laws 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-nine,  entitled  :  “  An  Act 
to  limit  the  amount  of  property  to  be  held  by  corpora¬ 
tions  organized  for  other  than  business  purposes,”  is 
hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

Sec.  1.  Any  religious,  educational,  -  bible,  missionary, 
tract, literary,  scientific,  benevolent.,  or  charitable  corpor¬ 
ation,  or  corporation  organized  for  the  enforcement  of 
laws  relating  to  children  or  animals,  or  for  hospital, 
infirmary,  or  other  than  business  purposes,  may  take 
and  hold,  in  its  own  right  or  in  trust,  for  any  purpose 
comprised  in  the  objects  of  its  incorporation,  property 
not  exceeding  in  value  three  million  dollars,  or  the 
yearly  income  derived  from  which  shall  not  exceed  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  notwithstanding 
the  provisions  of  any  special  or  general  act  heretofore 
passed,  or  certificate  of  incorporation  affecting  such  cor- 


26 


porations.  In  computing  the  value  of  such  property  no 
increase  in  value  arising  otherwise  than  from  improve¬ 
ments  made  thereon  shall  be  taken  into  account.  The 
personal  estate  of  such  corporations  shall  be  exempt 
from  taxation,  and  the  provisions  of  chapter  four  hun¬ 
dred  and  eighty-three  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred 
and  eighty-five,  entitled  “An  Act  to  tax  gifts,  legacies 
and  collateral  inheritances  in  certain  cases”  and  the  acts 
amendatory  thereof,  shall  not  apply  thereto  nor  to  any 
such  corporation  by  grant,  bequest,  or  otherwise  ;  pro¬ 
vided  however  that  this  provision  shall  not  apply  to  any 
monied  or  stock  corporation  deriving  an  income  or  profit 
from  the  capital,  or  otherwise,  or  to  any  corporation 
which  has  the  right  to  make  dividends  or  to  distribute 
profits  or  assets  among  its  members. 

Sec.  2.  This  Act  shall  not  affect  the  right  of  any  such 
corporation  to  take  and  hold  property  exceeding  in 
value  the  amount  specified  in  section  one  of  this  Act, 
provided  such  right  is  conferred  upon  such  corporation 
by  special  statute  ;  nor  affect  any  statute  by  which  its 
real  estate  is  exempt  from  taxation. 

Sec.  3.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

State  of  New  York, 

Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State 

I  have  compared  the  preceding  with  the  original  law 
on  file  in  this  office,  and  do  hereby  certify  that  the  same  is  a 
correct  transcript  therefrom  and  of  the  whole  thereof. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  office  of  the  Secre¬ 
tary  of  State,  at  the  City  of  Albany,  this  twenty-third  day 
of  June,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety. 

Seal  )  (Signed).  Frank  Rice, 

affixed,  f  Secretary  of  State. 


27 


4 


